What you need to know about Gastric Band Surgery in Thailand

A gastric band is a type of bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) to treat obesity. This procedure involves placing an inflatable silicone band at the upper part of the stomach to reduce the size of your stomach and reduce food intake, so you will feel full after eating less food. Unlike many other types of bariatric surgery, such as Gastric Bypass, this procedure is minimally invasive, quick, reversible, and adjustable.

Your doctor may recommend gastric band surgery for you if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 – 35, non-surgical approaches (such as regular exercise and dietary changes) have not proven effective, and/or you have obesity-related diseases. However, doctors do not recommend this procedure for people who have current alcohol or drug abuse disorder and people who have an uncontrolled psychiatric illness.

After gastric band surgery, you will slowly lose your excess weight and your risk of developing weight-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, is significantly reduced. You will be able to lead a more active life and enjoy numerous activities you could not do before, such as sports.

MyMediTravel currently lists 2 facilities in Thailand offering Gastric Band Surgery procedures - see above for the complete list, along with estimated prices. The price of a Gastric Band Surgery is usually standardized across all patients but a pre-assessment by the surgeon will confirm the price prior to traveling. For a personalized quote Click Here to submit your details

What does the Procedure Involve?

Gastric band surgery is carried out under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the procedure.

To start the procedure, your surgeon creates several small incisions in your abdomen. These incisions are made to insert a device called a laparoscope, which is a long narrow tube with a camera on its end, as well as small surgical tools. The camera will give clear pictures of your stomach to guide the surgeon. Using the small surgical tools and guided by the camera, your surgeon places an inflatable, silicone band around the top part of your stomach and attaches a tube to the band. The tube can be accessed through a port under the skin of the abdomen. Using the port, saline solution is injected to inflate the band. The saline-filled band divides your stomach into two parts, a small pouch and a large pouch. Food will enter the smaller pouch. Since the smaller pouch can only hold smaller amounts of food, you will feel fuller faster.

How Long Should I Stay in Thailand?

It takes around 30 to 60 minutes to complete Gastric Band surgery. The procedure is usually carried out as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can leave the hospital on the same day of the surgery once the effects of the anesthesia wear off. While you can leave the hospital immediately, you should plan to stay in Thailand for at least 14 days following your surgery to allow your body to heal and to attend follow-up checkups.

What's the Recovery Time?

The recovery time after gastric band surgery is relatively short and easier than most other types of bariatric surgery. You should be able to resume your normal activities within 2 days. However, you should wait at least a week until you can go back to work, particularly if your job is physically demanding.

What About Aftercare?

Your surgeon will give you a diet plan for your recovery period. For the first few days following your surgery, your diet is restricted to water and fluids, such as juices, thin soups, and milk. Up until the end of the fourth week, you can eat liquid and blended foods, such as pureed vegetables and yogurt. Soft foods are introduced 4-6 weeks following the surgery. After 6 weeks, you should be able to resume your normal diet.

Besides a diet plan, your surgeon will also provide detailed post-operative instruction. You should take medicines as and when prescribed by your surgeon, use ice packs to deal with inflammation, change your bandage regularly, and avoid lifting heavy objects.

It is also important that you consult a nutritionist who will make sure that your diet consists of food items rich in vitamins and minerals. Following dietary recommendations from your nutritionist and surgeon with care is vital because overeating can lead to dilation of the esophagus and vomiting. You also need to make healthy lifestyle changes to optimize and maintain your weight loss.

What's the Success Rate?

On average, you should be able to lose 40% to 60% of your excess weight after gastric band surgery. Most people lose about 0.5 kg to 1 kg each week following the surgery. One year after the surgery, you can expect to have lost between 22 kg and 45 kg of your excess weight. In order to accomplish long-term weight loss, you will need to be committed to maintaining a healthier lifestyle, by following a healthy diet and exercise regularly. It is important to bear in mind that gastric band surgery is a tool that will help you lose weight, instead of a shortcut.

Before considering the surgery, you need to be aware of the risks associated with having a gastric band, which may include:

An adverse reaction to anesthesia, such as breathing problems, blood clots, allergic reactions, infection, heart attack, and stroke.
Slower weight loss compared to other types of bariatric surgery.
The band can have mechanical problems, slip, or erode into the stomach.
Injury to other abdominal organs.
Hernia.
Stomach ulcers, gastritis, and heartburn.
Wound infection.
Gastrointestinal scarring.
Poorer nutrition as a result of restricted food intake.

Are there Alternatives to Gastric Band Surgery?

Alternative Bariatric Procedures:

Gastric Bypass involves creating a small pouch in your stomach and rerouting part of your digestive system so you cannot eat as much as you used to and your body cannot absorb as much food. Gastric bypass is considered as one of the most effective bariatric surgeries.
Gastric Sleeve works by removing a large portion of your stomach to reduce its size, resulting in a sleeve or banana-like structure.
Gastric Balloon uses an inflatable balloon to reduce the amount of food your stomach can contain at any one time. The inflatable balloon is temporarily inserted into your stomach through your throat. This procedure is nonsurgical and reversible.

About Thailand

Thailand leads the way for Asian countries with over 60 state-of-the-art JCI accredited facilities and consistently voted one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It's known for its tropical beaches, floating markets, stunning royal palaces, and Buddhist temples. In Bangkok, the capital, an ultramodern cityscape rises with brand new high-rise condominium developments next to quiet canal side communities. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the most popular tourist areas outside of Bangkok are Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Pattaya, all with great yacht chartering opportunities.

Thailand welcomes hundreds of thousands of medical tourists each year, many of which travel for Gastric Band Surgery procedures. Medical Tourists travel from all across the globe, particularly from the local SE Asia region, Australia, US, Middle East and an increasing amount are traveling from China. An outstanding private healthcare system combined with a hot tropical climate and competitive prices means that Thailand is now the third most popular destination in the world for medical tourism. The most popular procedures tend to be cosmetic surgery (breast augmentations, gender reassignment surgery, and CoolSculpting to name a few), cardiac surgery, orthopedics, and urology.

Popular Parts of Thailand

With a population of just under 70 million people spread across an area of around 500k square km, Thailand’s most popular regions/cities include Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Hua Hin. The capital city Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world, whilst Thailand as a whole receives over 30 million tourists each year, the vast majority of these will enter Thailand through Bangkok.

As Bangkok is the only urbanized region mentioned, all others are centered around island/beach life, with the exception of Chiang Mai, set in the northern Thailand jungle.

Weather and Climate in Thailand

Known for its truly tropical climate and scorching temperatures, Thailand, in general, is hot and humid all year round. The coastal locations do benefit from the cooling sea breeze, a luxury urban Bangkok is denied. Average temperatures range from 28°C (82°F) up to 35°C (95°F). However, during the Hot Season (March to June), temperatures can top 40°C (104°F).

The infamous Rainy Season tends to start in July and continue through to October; during this time expect heavy rainfall, often amounting to flooding in some areas. It will remain warm to hot but humidity levels will rise and the mosquitos will come out to play!

November to February is often referred to as the Cool Season when less rain is expected and the temperatures tend not to rise above 35°C (95°F).

From a tourist perspective; High Season lasts from November to March and Low Season April to October. But be aware of the Shoulder Seasons of April to June and September to October, when Thailand is less impacted by the Rainy Season and less busy with tourists – these can be the ideal times to visit.

In a nutshell, Thailand is a Shorts and T-shirt Country, you’re never really going to be cold, so pack light; shorts, t-shirts, vests, skirts, singlets, and light dresses. Maybe pack jeans and shoes if you’re planning on going to a swanky roof-top bar in Bangkok or to a temple where flip-flops are not acceptable.

Don’t forget mosquito spray as the little pests can get everywhere; big ones and little ones! Always protect against the sun; high factor sunscreen and UV-protective sunglasses. The usual medications found at home should be available in most pharmacies.

Getting around in Thailand

With the Suvarnabhumi International Airport being serviced by some of the world’s major airlines, tourists can fly into Thailand from almost anywhere in the world, sometimes with a connection along the way. All the popular regions have their own international airports, with the exception of Pattaya, which is just a 90-minute taxi ride from Bangkok. However, arrival destinations are slightly limited outside of Bangkok, but the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways will fly into Phuket International Airport. The rest, mostly fly in from local countries on budget airlines, including Scoot, SilkAir, AirAsia and Lion Air to name a few.

For domestic flights, the airports are nicely linked in Thailand with flights from as little as $45 USD one way. There are several budget airlines servicing these routes, including Thai Lion Air, AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Smile.

The train allows for even cheaper travel within Thailand and is far more comfortable than spending hours sitting on a bus. Bangkok has the BTS, or Skytrain, which allows for fast transfer from the airport into the city. Given the traffic in central Bangkok, the BTS offers a great alternative to being stuck in traffic jams.

Taxis are great, however, be sure to confirm the price before you begin your journey or better still, insist the ride goes on the meter – that is how you guarantee the cheapest and fairest price. But expect traffic in the city and any built-up areas.

Tourist Visas in Thailand

Whilst Thailand is most welcoming of tourists from all over the world, travelers should check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand for confirmation. Those with a UK, US, German, Australian, Singaporean passport, for example, do not require a visa when entering and can stay for up to 30 days. Whereas Chinese and Indian passport holders are required to apply for a visa on arrival, which lasts up to 15 days – for more information, click here.

Additional Information

The Thai Baht (THB) is the local currency and $1 USD will get you 30-33 THB, or in other words, 1,000 THB is worth approximately $32 USD.
ATMs are readily available across Thailand and accept virtually all major bank cards (Visa, Mastercard). Credit card payment is accepted in most established restaurants and outlets, with the more local food vendors, for example, only accepting cash. Tipping is common as service is not included at restaurants, anything around 10% is fine.
Thai is the local language but due to the extremely well-established tourism industry in Thailand, English is spoken by most locals who work with tourists and often signs will have an English translation.
Buddhism (95%) is the primary religion throughout Thailand, with a large Muslim population (4%) mostly focused in the south. The Royal Family is deeply revered throughout the country and should never be disrespected, such behavior is severely punished. Pointing with your feet and touching another person’s head is considered extremely rude.
There are many public holidays in Thailand, which aren’t always on the same day each year, including Songkran (Thai New Year), which is celebrated in mid-April, Labor Day and Coronation Day in early May, Asanha Buja in July and Constitution Day in December.

Gastric Band Surgery in Thailand

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